{
  "id": 11429593,
  "title": "Washington Wizards Guard Confesses About the Team’s Mandate to Tank for AJ Dybantsa Last Season",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/washington-wizards-guard-confesses-about-the-teams-mandate-to-tank",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-02T11:42:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/washington-wizards-guard-confesses-team-114247577.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a recent interview with WUSA9, Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington may have inadvertently disclosed that the team intentionally tanked last season to secure the top overall pick in the NBA Draft. This revelation caused a stir among fans and media alike. During the interview, Carrington stated, \"This season, I don’t think it would take anything that we’re not already saying. Being ourselves, like we’re nice, we’re talented, we’re gifted individuals, all of us. We’re very talented. We just haven’t been told yet to go be the best version of ourselves.\"\n\nCarrington further explained, \"We’ve all, in a way, been held back just because, as you said, we were trying to get AJ Dybantsa. That’s no secret. But now it’s no, no one has handcuffs. Everyone’s shackles free.\" He went on to say, \"So that alone is already a conversation starter, but then you put that on top of the coaching, on top of the vets that we have. That’s a playoff team, and that’s gonna happen. That’s gonna happen; if not now, then when it does happen, it’ll happen for a long time.\"\n\nFormer Washington Wizards forward Anthony Davis commented on AJ Dybantsa's potential, saying, \"I think the ones that are special like Coop and obviously A.J., they want it. They want to learn, they want to get better, they ask questions, the right questions. I’ve been able to give A.J. a little bit as far as how it’s going to be coming into the league. He’ll have a target on his back, everyone’s going to want to come after him. It’s the same thing I was doing with Coop last year.\" Davis also noted Dybantsa's quick jumper and athleticism, which surprised him.",
  "summary": "After registering the league’s worst record last season (17-65), the Washington Wizards used the top overall pick in this summer’s NBA Draft to select BYU product AJ Dybantsa. However, this may have been all part of a plan. In a recent interview with WUSA9, Bub Carrington may have inadvertently admitted that the Washington Wizards intentionally [...]",
  "key_points": [
    "Washington Wizards guard Bub Carrington allegedly revealed team's intention to tank last season.",
    "Team's strategy aimed to secure top overall pick in NBA Draft for AJ Dybantsa.",
    "Carrington stated team held back intentionally to focus on acquiring top draft prospect."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}